May Newsletter
Administrator’s Message
Hello Roadrunner families,
As we get deeper into the spring, we’ve had lots of exciting things happening at the school, with trips and events, as well as a number of activities taking place in classrooms that help to extend the learning and build engagement for students. We do our best to ensure that all students have the opportunity to participate in these activities and events. If there is an activity coming up in your child’s class, but they may not be able to participate due to financial reasons, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the school, and we can help to support families to ensure no one misses out on any co-curricular activities.
For May, we are focusing on our EQAO assessment coming up for Grade 3 and 6 students on May 26 to 28th. If you have children in these grades, you will know there has been preparation ongoing throughout the year to ensure they are as prepared as possible to successfully complete the assessments. We also look forward to Track and Field competitions at the school, regional, and district levels, as well as a number of other activities. One opportunity for all families to participate in will be our Parent Reaching Out Outdoor Education event on Thursday, May 28th. There will be an opportunity to connect with others to explore the natural areas around the school and learn a little more about the physical and mental health benefits of getting outside. Hope to see you then!
As always, if you have any questions or concerns about your child’s progress, or any other area of the school program, please reach out to your child’s teacher first, as they know their students well. If you require additional support, we’re available to connect from the school office.
Sincerely, Mr. Brock & Mr. Lobb, Huron Centennial Administrators
Attendance
Did you know…
Consistently attending school corresponds to higher achievement, establishes solid study habits and creates a steady learning progression. Every day of learning builds on the last, so attending regularly helps students feel confident and ready to participate in class.
Academic Excellence
- Review and practice skills at home (e.g. review fractions while cooking in the kitchen)
- Make connections at home and in the community to skills learned at school (e.g. reading menus, measuring materials to build a deck, estimating the cost of buying groceries)
Children's Mental Health Week
During the week of May 4-8, 2026, students across the district celebrate Children’s Mental Health Week. This year’s theme is #ComeTogetherCanad. Social connection is a cornerstone of our health and well-being. Yet, today’s data reveals a troubling trend: 17% of youth and 13% of adults report feeling lonely "often" or "always." In his book, The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt argues that the rise of the "phone-based childhood" has directly fueled this increase. By replacing face-to-face interaction with texting, snap streaks and “likes”, we have inadvertently increased adolescent loneliness and depression.
Loneliness is more than a feeling; it is a fundamental barrier to mental health. To break this cycle, we must intentionally scale back our reliance on digital distractions to make room for genuine human interaction. This week serves as a call to action: by fostering everyday moments of real-world connection and a true sense of belonging in our schools, we can build healthier communities where every student feels seen, heard, and supported
In honour of Children’s Mental Health Week, the Avon Maitland District School Board and Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board are pleased to present “Stronger Connections, Healthier Tech Habits” facilitated by Katherine Martinko (Childhood Unplugged, The Analog Family Substack). For full event details and to register, please click here.
For additional resources, please review the resources listed below:
- Noticing Signs Substance Use + Technology Overuse in Youth
- Helping Your Child Manage Digital Technology - School Mental Health Ontario
- How Do You Know if You Should Be Concerned
- Noticing Mental Health Concerns for Your Child
- How to Talk With Your Child When You Feel Concerned
- AMDSB-Community Mental Health & Well-Being Supports
- Coping Strategies for At Home – Mental Health & Well-Being
Parent Council News
Next Meeting: Monday May 4th in the Library. If you wish to join us by virtual link, please contact the office or email [email protected]
Our Outdoor Education Family Event is on Thursday, May 28th, from 6:00pm-8:00pm. AMDSB Outdoor Education Lead, Dr. Michelle McDonald, is our guest speaker and the night will feature an opportunity to explore the grounds of Huron Centennial, experience some ‘creek curriculum’ and learning stations in the forest, and enjoy a (free!) ice cream social.
If you are able to lend a hand, the Parent Council could use a few more hands for set up/take down.
Please email Denise if you are able to help! [email protected]
Our Metzgers Fundraiser was another great success. Our total profit was a total of $2215.00. Thank you to everyone who supported.
Character Counts Group - Summer Book Exchange
We are excited to try a new initiative for this year - a summer book exchange! Summer is a great time to relax with a good book. Be it reading on the beach, by the pool, at the campsite, or passing time on a rainy day - we want to make sure that our students have a good read ready to go when the reading mood hits!
If you have books that you are looking to donate (any reading level or genre…as long as the material is appropriate!), please drop them off to the school by Friday, June 5.
Students in all grades will be able to “shop” for some new summer reading material on June 9, 10, 11.
Color Run
On Friday, May 29th, the Character Counts group will organize a Colour run for everyone from grades K-8. All money raised through pledges will be put toward our fundraising goals: supporting The Cure Foundation and Ronald McDonald House. You can click on a link to donate, and please feel free to share the links with others!
What is a Colour Run?
A colour run is known as a celebration run, and it is not timed or competitive. Known as “The Happiest Runs on the Planet,” they are designed to celebrate health, happiness, and individuality. A colour run is a fun way to encourage physical fitness, and we are looking forward to being able to celebrate together as a school community. As the students run around the school property, they will be showered in safe, non-toxic powder (cornstarch based). By the end of the run, everyone should be rainbow coloured! 😃 To wrap things up, we will have a colour party on the tarmac, with leftover colour and music.
* The coloured powder washes out easily from hair, skin, and clothing. *
If you would like to see an example of a colour run in action, you can check out the following link: Colour Run Example. We have also included a link to a short clip that includes some pictures from past colour runs held at Huron Centennial: HCS Colour Run
The Details
- Awesome HCS Colour Run ‘26 T-shirts are available for $10/t-shirt! This year’s t-shirts have been designed by McKenna Kyle, a Grade 5 student at Huron Centennial. They are available to be ordered on School Cash online until 3:00pm on Monday, May 4 to ensure delivery in time for the run. Please see the attached design, then place your order online.
- Each runner is required to wear sunglasses
- Students are encouraged to wear a white t-shirt (or order the custom-designed HCS Colour Run t-shirt, and wear it that day!)
- Each runner will need to bring a towel to sit on for the bus ride home. It would also be a good idea to tuck an over-sized t-shirt into the backpack as a way to limit any colour dust spreading on the bus. Before boarding the bus, each class will do a big “shake off.” We will be having backpacks lined up outdoors to avoid tracking any colour back into the school, and we will be making every effort to avoid creating a mess on the bus ride home.
- Please consider raising pledges from family and friends to join us in supporting The Cure Foundation and Ronald McDonald House (Southwestern Ontario). Pledges are due by Monday, June 1, and tax receipts will be provided by the charities for donations of $20 or more.
Volunteers are needed to help make this run a success! If you are interested in volunteering to throw colour during the run, please email Megan Scruton at [email protected] as soon as possible.
We are looking forward to a successful fundraising effort for the Cure Foundation and Ronald McDonald House, and we cannot wait to celebrate this fun event as a school community!
Sincerely,
Members of the Huron Centennial Character Counts Club
Weather Changes
As we move into the Spring weather, our lawns are very wet and therefore we have lots of mud and puddles. Please consider the outdoor time that our students enjoy and pack splash pants, rubber boots, an extra pair of socks and maybe a second pair of pants. We appreciate the outdoor opportunities that are very special to Huron Centennial and we know that students may get wet and dirty. We do our best to avoid calling parents for a change of clothing and appreciate the extra items that can be packed into a backpack “just in case”.
Drop Off/Pick Up of Students
Each day families are balancing increasingly busier schedules and parents are required to drop off or pick up students outside of the school day hours. If you are requiring an end of day pickup please call the school office no later than 2:00pm. This allows the office staff to give enough notification to your child(ren) to come down to the front at the end of the day for pickup.
If your child(ren) is not arriving/leaving on the bus, please use the parking lot to pull in, walk to the front doors to drop off/pick up your child. To exit, please use the parking lot exit to access the roadway east or west.
We ask that vehicles do not move through the front driveway of the school and attempt to exit through the west exit. At the beginning of the day by 8:40am. Buses are lined up down the driveway starting drop off at Door B (Kindergarten entrance) and we ask that parents not drive over our grass/lawn area outside of the driveway to exit between or around the buses. At dismissal buses will be in the drive, in front of the main doors starting at 3:05 pm as they safely park and prepare for our end of the day routine.
Parents will be required to park in the lot and walk to the doors to safely pick up their children. Please do not pull in between the buses in the front of the school for safety reasons.
Bus cancellations
When the weather is questionable, please check for delays and cancellations on the bus planner website: https://www.ourschoolbuses.ca/
Download the BusPlanner App – follow the prompts at this link BusPlanner App How To's
Make sure you turn on the notifications in your phone to receive the BusPlanner alerts. If you are not receiving them please delete the app and redownload it to your phone.
We will also send notifications through School Messenger by email and text. Please be sure to check those messages.
Updates on delays or cancellations will be posted on our Instagram and Facebook pages as well—so make sure you’re following us on social media. Announcements are shared as early as possible once our bus provider makes a decision.
Families are encouraged to check their child’s Google Classroom if they are unable to attend due to weather. Staff will be posting items for students to work on while at home.
MABEL’S LABELS
Huron Centennial has teamed up with Mabel’s Labels!
It’s that time of year when the students have extra pieces of clothing and labelling your child’s items is always a good way to keep track of their belongings. Consider placing an order online and help support our school while keeping your child’s belongings organized!
STAY UP TO DATE
Check out our website where all updates on the school calendar are live. Website
School Cash Online: please sign up for school cash online for all purchases related to school products and fundraising. School cash online
School Messenger: get up to the minute information such as our weekly updates for the coming week, school notices and reminders School Messenger
Bus Planner Delays: Access the bus planner delays app and refresh your app for this school year to ensure accurate and timely updates Bus Planner Delays App
MAY EVENTS
May 1- Principal Appreciation Day
May 4-8- Book Fair
May 4-8- Children’s Mental Health Week
May 5- Grade 7 2nd Immunizations
May 5- Wear Red for National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People
May 6- Gr 4/5 Mrs.Cousteils class to South Huron Arts Centre
May 6- Teacher Appreciation Day
May 8- Wear Green for Children’s Mental Health
May 11- Grade 6 to Pathways Innovation Centre in Stratford
May 15- Spirit Day-Wear your HCPS spirit wear or green and yellow
May 16- Educational Support Personnel Day
May 18- Victoria Day (no school for students)
May 20- Gr 4/5 Mrs.Cousteils and Gr 5 Mr. McBride- Trip to Pinery Provincial Park
May 21- School Track and Field (Rain Date May 22)
May 26-28- Grade 3 and 6 EQAO
May 28- Grade 8 Swim Test
May 29- School Color Run starts at 2:05pm
Upcoming Dates:
June 2- Regional Track & Field at GDCI (Weather date is June 4th)
June 5- PA Day-No School for students
June 9- First Rider Program for 2026 JK’s
June 19- Grade 8 Graduation 6:30pm-8:30pm
**Last Day of school is on Thursday June 25th**